<?php
query_posts(array('category_name' => 'home-slideshow', 'posts_per_page' => 6));
?>
<div id="slides">
    <div class="slides_container">
        <?php if (have_posts()) : ?>
            <?php while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>
                <div class="slide">
                    <?php echo get_the_post_thumbnail(null, 'slide-show') ?>
                    <div class="caption">
                        <h2><a href="<?php echo  get_permalink() ?>"><?php the_title(); ?></a></h2>
                        <p><?php echo get_the_excerpt(); ?></p>
                    </div>
                </div>
            <?php endwhile; // end of the loop. ?>
        <?php endif; ?>
    </div>

</div><!-- #slides -->
<?php wp_reset_query(); ?>